Improvement in beer-faucets



H.- BREDERLOW.

BEER FAUCE'I'.

Patented April 11, 1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIon.

H RMANN BREDERLOW, on oINoINNATI, onIo.

IMPROVEMENT m BEER-FAUCETS? Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 175,915, dated April11, 1876 application filed i 'March 24, 1876.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, HERMANN BREDERLOW, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county,Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments inBeer-Faucets, of which the following is a specification:

This invention is an improvement on the beer-faucet seen in LettersPatent N 0. 158,326, issued December 29, 1874, to Steves 82; Breder-'low; and the present improvement comprises a novel arrangement of theair-tube that is inserted in the keg or other vessel containing theliquor.

In my improved form of faucet the air-tube, instead of being a slidingmember, as represented in the aforesaid patent, is a fixture, whicharrangement obviates the expense and annoyance of a stufling-box, andenables the expeditious insertion of the faucet in the head of a keg, ashereinafter more fully explained.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a verticalsection through thedevice, the plug being represented in such a position as to exclude airfrom the longitudinal channel of the faucet. Fig. 2 is another verticalsection, but showing said plug rotated so as to admit air into thechannel. Fig. 3 is an enlarged axial section through the automaticstop-valve of the air-tube. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent the successiveoperations employed for inserting the faucet in the keg, and Fig. 7 is amodification of the device.

The faucet A a, rotating plug B b D, nozzle 0 c, and longitudinalchannel or passage E, being the samein construction and operation asdescribed in the aforesaid patent, No. 158,326, need no furtherexplanation in this specification. The faucet is provided with acustomary tapering stem or heel, F, closed at its end G, and pierced onits sides with apertures H, or with slots H. Passing through the closedend G, and secured therein with solder g, or otherwise, is a bent tube,I, of metal or other suitable inflexible material. This tube may becurved to any desired degree, and it should be long enough to projectabove the level of the liquor in the keg or barrel. The receiving end ofthis curved tube communicates with the longitudinal channel E of thefaucet, while the delivery end of said tube has tapped into it a nut, J,whose bore,

K, serves as a guide for stem L of the automatic valve 1. (See Fig. 3.)This valve, when seated,closes the aperture m of a head, M, in theair-duct'I. To facilitate soldering tube I to faucet A, so as to-connectwith channel E, an opening may be made, in the upper side of saidfaucet, and as soon as the junction is effected the opening is closedwith a cap or plate, N. This cap may be brazed to the fancet, or it maybe made capable of removal at will, so as to alford facility for takingout any sediment from channel E and tube I. T are apertures in tube I,to allow air to enter the keg when valve L I is raised from its seat Mm.

The act of inserting my faucet in the head 0 of a keg is accomplished inthe following manner: P represents the customary cork driven into saidhead, which cork is first operated on by a suitable cutter, so as toform a core, R, of somewhat less diameter than the tube I. After thecutter has performed its workit is removed, and the core It is leftremaining in the cork P, as seen in Fig. 4. The nut J is now brought tobear against the exposed end of core R, and the latter is forced intothe keg, the tube I closing up the cavity made by the displacement ofsaid core, and thereby effectually preventing the escape of liquor. (SeeFig. 5 The tube I is shoved along until the closed end G of the faucetcomes in contact with the external end of cork P, when sufficient forceis exerted to drive the cork bodily into the keg, the stem or heel Fcompletely filling up the hole previously occupied by said cork. (SeeFig. 6.) These successive acts of cutting the core in the cork,

inserting the tube, and driving in the faucet are accomplished in a fewminutes, and without spilling a drop of beer. When the faucet isinserted and its plug B brought to the position shown in Fig. 1, noliquor can escape from the keg; neither can air enter the channel E,because the aperture D of said plug is disposed transversely of thefaucet, or at right angles to said channel. As soon, however, as theplug is turned, so as to open the faucet and allow liquor to flow outthrough perforations H or H and nozzle 0, the aperture D is at oncebrought in line with channel E. The partial vacuum produced in the kegby the discharging of its contents draws air through channel E, apertureD, tube I, and ports T, the valve L I automatically opening to allowthis ingress of air.

' The tube I has been described as receiving its supply of air throughchannel E and aperture D; but it is evident both of these devices E andD may be dispensed with, as seen in Fig. 7. In this illustration thereceiving end of tube I is shown as, provided with an independentexternal cock or valve, U, operated by a rod, V, that communicates withthe plug B, or its handle, so as to be opened and closed simultaneouslywith said plug; or the valve U may be opened and closed by hand, as thegist of my invention consists of the tube I, securely united to thefaucet, and capable of insertion in the keg, in the manner described,and, therefore, any approved form of inlet or exit valve may beemployed. The end G of faucet may be perforated or slotted, if desired.

I claim as my invention- 1. The faucet A a B, having the rigid airduct Iimmovably secured thereto, substantially as herein described, and forthe purpose set forth.

2. The combination of faucet A a c, fixed air-tube I, channel E, androtating plug B b D, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of faucet A a c, fixed air-tube I, channel E, androtating plug B b D, said faucet being provided with a closed end, G,and perforated sides H, as and for the object stated.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

HERMANN BREDERLOW.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, JOHN PLoss.

